OK, so this one falls into my "uh, this doesn't happen already?" file. What "this one" is is this article.
So, State agencies that have repeated violations in audits from the State (four or more) may have their funding cut by the relevant legislative subcommittees that fund them.
Sounds like a great idea. An agency's budget is a privilege, not a right and if an agency can't get its act in order, then the subcommittees should be putting budgets on the chopping block.
In turn, this should make agency heads more directly and keenly aware of what's going on at the levels beneath them. And that up and down the food chain of State agencies, hopefully greater accountability will result.
Here's what happens in private business. If a part of a company doesn't succeed, over time it goes away. It is consumed under other organizational units or it just disappears. The company isn't in that business anymore.
I understand that this model can't be directly applied to the operations of Maryland government but the same principles must apply. I consider this recommendation to be a good step. It's just a start and I'd be interested to see what agencies and/or programs are already at risk of their funding being more greatly scrutinized.
